Life events checklist for DSM-5

traumatic events, lifetime

To raise awareness on personally experienced traumatic event(s).

Number is not limited. It is usually taken individually.

The Life Events Checklist for DSM-5 (LEC-5) is a self-report measure designed to screen for potentially traumatic events in a respondent's lifetime. The LEC-5 assesses exposure to 16 events known to potentially result in PTSD or distress and includes one additional item assessing any other extraordinarily stressful event not captured in the first 16 items. There is no formal scoring protocol or interpretation per se, other than identifying whether a person has experienced one or more of the events listed. Respondents indicate varying levels of exposure to each type of potentially traumatic event included on a 6-point nominal scale, and respondents may endorse multiple levels of exposure to the same trauma type. The levels are: Happened to me; Witnessed it; Learned about it; Part of my job; Not sure; Doesn't apply.

Paper-pencil test.

It could be taken as assessment or as self-assessment tool.

None.

Weathers, F.W., Blake, D.D., Schnurr, P.P., Kaloupek, D.G., Marx, B.P., & Keane, T.M. (2013). The Life Events Checklist for DSM-5 (LEC-5). Instrument available from the National Center for PTSD at www.ptsd.va.gov.

You may download the handout from here.

Aleksandra Stevanović (MEDRI).